Driving licence and permit to drive

[DonniePeverley]

So we've been looking at cars, unbeknown to idiots like us we didn't realise we needed a permit to buy a car here. 

 

Also it appears the driving permit we purchased in the UK is not enough either for insurance purposes. 

 

Is there any agents who can do these for you ?

 

Futhermore, if not is it quite straightforward for these two items ?

[Ralf001]

permit... as in license?

 

License is not a requirement to purchase a motor vehicle... Who is telling you this ?

[KhunBENQ]

Some unclear wording.

Who is we?

 You >purchased< a >permit<?

Meaning an international driving permit (IDP)?

 

Sounds like you want to buy a car in your name AND insure in your name AND drive?

 

Getting Thai driving license with home license and IDP is pretty straightforward at the Departement of Land Transport (DLT).

Appropriate visa/permit to stay required (what you have?).

Where do you live?

 

[Seppius]

I think what you are talking about is a Resident Certificate from immigration, simple to get, tell them It's for car purchase, get insurance separate

[DonniePeverley]

Yes the resident certificate. When we spoke  to the car company they said you needed that. Then when we made enquiries to insurance they said we needed a driving license, not the driving permit from the UK. 

 

We have the relelvent visas. 

 

Any agent in Bangkok can do this ?

[KhunBENQ]

3 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Any agent in Bangkok can do this ?

Might need a separate thread in the Bangkok forum?

[richard_smith237]

4 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

So we've been looking at cars, unbeknown to idiots like us we didn't realise we needed a permit to buy a car here. 

 

No one needs a permit to buy a car here. 

A person (any person, any nationality) can buy a car here.

 

What you do need is a form of proof of address so that it can be registered in your name.

That proof of address comes as 

a) Certificate of Address - (usually obtained from Immigration)

b) Affirmation of Residence - (obtained from your Embassy, if they will do it).

 

4 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Also it appears the driving permit we purchased in the UK is not enough either for insurance purposes. 

 

IF you have a UK driving License... you can drive here legally. 

A 1969 International Driving Permit may smooth things over, but tecnically its not required (this is often a subject disputed on this forum).

 

To avoid ambiguity - you can get your Thai License very easily with just your UK Driving License (and a couple of other documents such as Proof of Address and Medical Certificate).

 

 

4 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Is there any agents who can do these for you ?

 

Futhermore, if not is it quite straightforward for these two items ?

 

Yes, there are agents - they will charge you for something you can very easily do yourself. 

[richard_smith237]

4 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Yes the resident certificate. When we spoke  to the car company they said you needed that.

 

Correct - this is so the Vehicle can be registered in your name (and to your address).

 

4 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

Then when we made enquiries to insurance they said we needed a driving license, not the driving permit from the UK. 

 

Your UK Driving License will (should) be sufficient....   (and if you have an IDP 1969, then any ambiguity in a police stop is also removed) - You can drive in Thailand on your Standard UK license - But, as mentioned above, if staying here long enough to be buying your own car, then its worth while getting your own Thai Driving license (simple process).

 

4 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

We have the relelvent visas. 

 

Any agent in Bangkok can do this ?

 

Careful of Agents advertising on Facebook - lots of scammers. 

 

Personally, if you have the time, just head down to the DLT and go through the licensing process yourself.....  

 

you will need. 

 

1) Colour Copy of your Passport (ID and Visa Page)

2) Copy of Medical Certificate (from any small clinic (about 200 baht)- ask for driving License Medical Cert and they'll do rudimentary checks (such as check for elephantitis).

3) Go to Immigration and Get a Letter of Residence 

3b) OR... Go to Embassy (and get an Affirmation of address - far more expensive - but some Embassies will not issue this).

4) Have Colour Copies *(front and back) of your UK license. 

 

5) Go to Department of Land Transport (early in the morning) i.e. about 8am and go for the Walk-In Queue (as its difficult for foreigners to make appointments online)... show documentation and state you want to get a Thai Driving Licence - communication will be hit and miss, but they'll nudge you through the process (you don't need to be a Thai speaker).

 

 

 

[msbkk]

56 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

Correct - this is so the Vehicle can be registered in your name (and to your address).

 

 

Your UK Driving License will (should) be sufficient....   (and if you have an IDP 1969, then any ambiguity in a police stop is also removed) - You can drive in Thailand on your Standard UK license - But, as mentioned above, if staying here long enough to be buying your own car, then its worth while getting your own Thai Driving license (simple process).

 

 

Careful of Agents advertising on Facebook - lots of scammers. 

 

Personally, if you have the time, just head down to the DLT and go through the licensing process yourself.....  

 

you will need. 

 

1) Colour Copy of your Passport (ID and Visa Page)

2) Copy of Medical Certificate (from any small clinic (about 200 baht)- ask for driving License Medical Cert and they'll do rudimentary checks (such as check for elephantitis).

3) Go to Immigration and Get a Letter of Residence 

3b) OR... Go to Embassy (and get an Affirmation of address - far more expensive - but some Embassies will not issue this).

4) Have Colour Copies *(front and back) of your UK license. 

 

5) Go to Department of Land Transport (early in the morning) i.e. about 8am and go for the Walk-In Queue (as its difficult for foreigners to make appointments online)... show documentation and state you want to get a Thai Driving Licence - communication will be hit and miss, but they'll nudge you through the process (you don't need to be a Thai speaker).

 

 

 

The UK licence is sufficient if you are here as a tourist. If however you live here permanently must have to have a Thai license. At least this is according to my knowledge. And the Thai license it is easy to get with your UK license.

[richard_smith237]

14 minutes ago, msbkk said:

The UK licence is sufficient if you are here as a tourist. If however you live here permanently must have to have a Thai license. At least this is according to my knowledge. And the Thai license it is easy to get with your UK license.

 

Correct...  thats as I understand the regulations.

 

If in Thailand on a Resident Permit (i.e. a Non-Immigrant Visa (of any type) or extension thereof, or a visa which lasts longer than 90 days (somewhat of a grey area that one), then theoretically, we are supposed to obtain a Thai license.

 

There is always lots of discussion and there is lots of ambiguity regarding this subject with lots of posters disagreeing... 

 

But... There is one 'beats all argument'...  Its not hard to get a Thai Driving License and its not going to harm you to do so... So, getting a Thai License is the simple answer to all of the debate and discussion.

 

 

Additionally - this may interest some - The rear of a UK License commonly has a silhouette of a motorcycle on it (usually for the lowest powered Motorcycle groups and trikes), this can be used to get a Thai Motorcycle license too (just in case one wishes to rent a scooter type motorcycle when travelling somewhere else within Thailand).